Track



June 9, 1931. P. CLARK ET AL TRACK Filed 00g. 2:5, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 9, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT orsica PETER CLARK, OF GREAT NECK, NEW YORK, AND JERRY C. IPINGLE, F ST. LOUIS,

i MISSOURI TRACK Application filed .August 23, 1930. Serial No. 477,376.

This invention relates to a track, and more particularly to a curtain track as used in theaters.

Among the principal objects which the present invention has in view are: To provide a rail having means for raising a curtain; to provide a track having means on both sides4 therein for automatically sliding a curtain to open and closed positions; to provide a track which is easy to install; to secure simplicity of construction and operation; and to obtain other advantages andresults as may be brought out in the following description:` 15 In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view looking at a stage and showingr our invention suspended, with the curtain in closed position.

Figure 2 is a similar view, with the framework of the stage removed andV shows the track in raised position with the curtain open; and

Figure 3 is a sectional view of the track shown as taken on the line 3 3 of Figure 2.

In the description:

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in said drawings, the reference numeral indicates the frame or uppermost part f the stage section. From the front of this frame substantially in the plane where the curtain hangs, is suspended a horizontal track 11 having substantially a length equal to the front opening of said stage section. Said track is held suspended from the underside of the framework 10 by a plurality of pulleys and lines 12 and 13 respectively, the lines extending laterally into the wings or to the side of the stage opening, there passing over other pulleys 14. The lines are directed downwardly from said pulleys 14 for nipulation when the track is desired to be operated. A curtain 15 is carried by the track as willbe hereinafter described, it suficing to say for the present that as the lines are pulled downwardly, the track is drawn to uppermost position and the curtain is opened on both sides as shown in Figure 2. As shown herein, the track is held up and the curtain retained open by having the lines which operate the track attached to the outside framework 1G of the stage by suitable means such as a hook 17. However, any desired means for operating and holding the curtain may be used,.such as motive power as is at present employed in theaters.

In carrying out the invention, the track 11 as shown in the drawings is preferably constructed of cast steel, although other suitable material may be used. Said track is provided with longitudinal grooves or tracks 18 extending substantially the length of said track, one track being shown at the front of the track and another at the back of the track. Said grooves or tracks 18 are preferably reentrant, that is, are of greater dimension at an inward part than at the outside or exposed portion. This structure will therefore enable a body, such as beads 2O toslidealong the enlarged portion of the groove but will prevent that vbody from laterally leaving the groove through the reduced opening or slit 21. Entry and exitof such body is obtained at the longitudinal ends of said groove which are turned, one upward as at 22 andthe other downward, as at 23, for proper direction of the curtain. A rope or other flexible member 24 is secured preferably t'o the stage at one side of the stage opening as at 27, and extends vertically upward to the downwardly turned end of one groove 23, then extends across the stage within the groove and upward at that end and to a ixedlattachment 25, to the upper framework 10. A similar ropeon flexible member 26 is attached to the other side of the stage and extends across the same in the other groove. In order to retain ropes 24 and 26 in said grooves the beads 2O are applied thereon for a length of the ropes substantially the length and width of the curtain 15. The beads 20 are likewise securely attach'ed to the side of the curtain, the attaching means projecting through and riding along the reduced opening of'said grooves or tracks 18.

' In opening the curtain 1'5 by the lines 13` the track 11 moves upwardly and since they ropes 24 and 26 within the grooves or tracks 18 remain taut, the portion of the rope within the groove is progressively.displaced to a vertical position at the side of the stage and the curtain automatically opens by a sidewise displacement. The curtain at its lower end may be suitably secured to the saine holding means as the ropes 24 and Q6. By so secur ing the curtain it prevents same from becoming dislodged while the track ll is being raised, as cleaily shown in Figure 2. To

further secure the curtain and prevent flap A ping while beingopened, there is shown a pair ot upstanding poles 28, one at each side of the stage, to which the curtain is held as by means of rings 29 which ride up and down on said pole as required in operation.

In lowering the track 1l for closing the curtain, the lines 13 are released from their holding` means and the curtain thereby automatically rides into the grooves or tracks 1S toward each other as the track 'lowers until the track has been entirely lowered when the inner ends or the curtain pass each other to a fully closed position such as shown in Figure l.

The track 11 as shown and described may be easily removed, and may be replaced by lowering it entirely, first disengaging the curtain 15 therefrom, by releasing the lines 13 from their holding means, thereby allo-wing said track to be lowered to a convenient position for removing` the ends of the lines securely attached to upper part of the track, after which it may be replaced with another track if so desired.

Claims: y

l. A device as characterized comprising a track held lioriz-ontaland having means for raising and loweringthe same,said track adapted to support a curtain and having means for moving said curtain .longitudinally of the track as the track is displaced in a vertical direction.

2. A device as characterized comprising a track held horizontal and having means vfor raising and lowering the same, said track having a groove therein adapted to Vsupport a curtain and having means for moving said curtain longitudinally of the groove as the track is displaced in a vertical direction.

3. A device as characterized comprising a track held horizontal and having means for raising and lowering the same, said track having a longitudinal groove ther-ein adapted to support a curtain and having means for moving said curtain longitudinally of the groove as the track is displaced in a vertical direction.

4. A device as characterized comprising a Y track held horizontal and having means for raising and lowering the saine, said track having a longitudinal groove therein with an upturned end adapted to support a curtain and having means for moving said curtain longitudinally of the groove Vas the track is displaced in a vertical direction.

1 5. A device as characterizedA comprising a f track held horizontal and having means for having a reentrant groove therein adapted to support a curtain and having means for movving said curtain longitudinally of the groove as the track is displaced in avertical direction. i

7 A device as characterized comprising a track held horizontal and having means for raising and lowering the same, said track having a reentrant groove therein with the ends of said groove open adapted to support a curtain and having means for moving said curtain longitudinally of the groove as the track is displaced in a vertical direction.

8. A device as characterized comprising a track held horizontal and having means for raising and lowering the same, said track having a reentrant groove longitudinally thereof with the ends of the roove open, and

flexible means relatively .slit able within the larger portion of said reentrant groove into and out of said open ends, and having a curtain supporting means projecting laterally therefrom through the narrower portion of said groove, whereby the curtain supporting means will have a longitudinal displacement with respect to the track as the track is-d-isplaced vertical.

PETER CLARK. JERRY C. PINGLE. 

